“If they refuse my visa and do not give me a residence permit, I will have to return to Russia and there they will put me in prison”, worries Agata, a Russian citizen opposed to Vladimir Putin, a refugee in Poland. The country, like its Baltic neighbors, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, is closing its border to Russian citizens on Monday, September 19.
>> War in Ukraine: the President of the European Commission wants Vladimir Putin to be brought to justice
Poland refuses visas for tourist, cultural, sporting or professional reasons. The reason: to respond to “public policy and security threats” and further isolate Russia, struggling on the Ukrainian military ground.
But, like Agata, Russian citizens who have taken refuge in Poland since the start of the war in Ukraine fear a forced return to their country. “This new measure prevents any resistance, it is a very bad solution”comments Agata, who fears that her visa will not be renewed.
To restrict visas is to risk discouraging those who still want to flee. Agata is afraid of not seeing her loved ones again: “My family wants to stay in Russia because they love their home despite everything, but they won’t be able to come and see me. I’m stuck here and can’t visit them until I get my residence permit. .”
These refugees believe that this decision serves the objectives of Moscow. “I think it’s a big mistake on Poland’s part.explains Andrej, exiled since March. This decision helps Putin.”
“Vladimir Putin wants to build an iron curtain around Russia and this new measure goes in his direction”
Andrej, a Russian exile in Polandat franceinfo
For Andrej and the others, preventing Russians from coming to Poland is an attack on the freedom of movement enshrined in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.